Mangalsutra removal and beef banquet event in Chennai banned

Chennai: Police banned the "mangalsutra removal and beef banquet" event proposed to be held here by Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) on April 14.

DK chief K Veeramani was booked on various charges, including promoting enmity on grounds of religion.

"The programme has been banned and a case booked against Dravidar Kazhagam president K Veeramani in connection with this," assistant commissioner of police (Vepery) Ayyappan told PTI.

The event has been banned as there were chances of it instigating hatred among communities, being detrimental to communal harmony and breaching public peace and tranquility. Also, a proper permission was not obtained, police said.

Strongly opposed by Hindu outfits, the event was announced by DK after a Tamil news TV channel last month cancelled a programme "Thaali (Mangalsutra) a boon or bane" following protest from Hindu Munnani.

"Beef banquet" was announced as a mark of DK's opposition to the idea of banning cow slaughter, beef-eating and a related recent ban in Maharashtra.

In a violent fallout of the Mangalsutra issue, a fringe Tamil group attacked the channel's office here, hurling crackers on March 12. The attack evoked widespread condemnation from political parties and media bodies.

The police ban on the DK programme comes in the backdrop of opposition from several quarters, including Shiv Sena and Hindu Makkal Katchi, which contended that it was against Tamil culture.

Reacting to the ban, Veeramani said in a statement, "Legal steps are being taken against the police order banning the event.”

On a petition filed opposing the DK event, the Madras high court recently asked the petitioner to approach the police and ordered that action may be taken by police in accordance with law if there was a prima facie case.

The police commissionerate has received 25 petitions seeking a ban on the event, besides seeking Veeramani's arrest.